Breast Cancer: Gen Y Women Not Immune

October 2, 2013 by Tamara Bell

Crystal King is a Gen Y breast cancer survivor and manager of the multicultural marketing for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Crystal was only 25 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. At that time, she had begun her professional career as a Sales Manager for Philip Morris USA after graduating from Albany State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing. Today, Crystal is manager of Circle of Promise, Komen’s African American program, where she works with the organization’s 122 domestic affiliates to help further their outreach efforts into minority communities. She is responsible for supporting the organization’s inclusion goals both internally and externally as well as underscoring their commitment to reducing the disparities that many women face in under-served communities by creating a greater awareness.

Since 1985, every October has been dedicated as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Crystal joins Keeping Up with Gen Y to discuss how we need to rewrite the mindset that suggests young women, especially those with no family history, are immune from breast cancer. She also points out that, for minority women in particular, it’s ok to talk about the cancer. Talking about it can actually save young lives.

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: breast cancer, Crystal King, Generation Y, Keeping Up with Gen Y, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, tamara bell

About Tamara Bell

Tamara Bell is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Y Gen Out Loud, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that provides a platform for Generation Yto discuss national politics and public policy issues.

Tamara began her journalism career as a staff reporter for the Dallas Times Herald. A few years later, she moved to York, Pa., as a political reporter for the York Dispatch, covering local, state, and national government as well as writing investigative stories for the mid-sized daily newspaper.

A Texas girl at heart, Tamara returned to Dallas a year later to work as press relations director for the re-election campaign of U.S. Rep. John Bryant. The next year, she moved to Austin and the Texas Legislature, where she stayed for 15 years. While at the Legislature, Tamara worked for Democratic House members as Chief-of-Staff and Press Secretary, and as a Senior Policy Analyst for the Senate State Affairs Committee chaired by a Republicansenator.

In 1996, Tamara became co-owner of a political newsletter covering state issues and elections. As Editor-in-Chief, Tamara helped shape the weekly publication into a must-read for state officials, legislative aides, and lobbyists. More recently, Tamara wrote a regular column analyzing coverage by the Texas Capitol Press Corps for an online political publication. She also works as a lecturer in the Advertising Department at The University of Texasat Austin.

Tamara has also been a judge for the 2010 Bright Ideas Award given by the Texas Daily Newspaper Association, served as a panelist at the Society of Professional Journalists 2010 Region 8 Conference where the theme was How to Save Journalism, and has been a guest lecture for the Advertising Department’s Internship course, speaking about the jobs outlook for graduating seniors.

Tamara earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Journalism from The University of Texas at Austin, and her B.A. in Journalism from Texas A&M University. She resides in Austin with her son, Jackson.

Tamara Bell is also the Host of Keeping Up with Gen Y on WomensRadio. Keeping Up with Gen Y offers discussions, interviews, and commentary about important issues of the day from the perspective of Generation Y (18-to 30-years-old). Aimed at all generations interested in learning about and inspiring young people, this show features professionals, experts, researchers, and members of Gen Y who share insights and experiences about the topics on the minds of today’s young adults.